New Delhi: The central government told the Supreme Court Wednesday that it would set up a committee to look into the “genuine human concerns” flagged by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This panel will be headed by the Union Cabinet Secretary, the government told the apex court during arguments over the legalisation of same-sex marriages.
It said the committee would consider and examine the suggestions of the community with respect to the issues they face when in cohabitory relationships with people of the same gender.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the top court’s Constitution Bench Wednesday: “Issue was some genuine human concerns and discussion was if something can be done administratively. Government is positive. This would need coordination by different ministries. A committee headed by the cabinet secretary will be formed and suggestions given by the petitioners (LGBTQIA+ members) will be addressed.”
The top court is looking into a batch of petitions that have sought the recognition of same-sex marriages under law, and which also argues that the right to marry a person of one’s choice should be extended to the LGBTQIA+ citizens as well.
The central government has opposed the petitions. It has said living together as partners and having sexual relationships among same-sex people was not comparable to the Indian family unit concept which involved a biological man, a biological woman and children born to them.
On 27 April, the Supreme Court had observed that granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages falls in the realm of the legislature. It, however, said the apex court’s objective in hearing the petitions was to ensure that means were devised to grant same-sex couples social and other benefits, and even legal rights without the label of marriage.
Also read: Uganda parliament passes mostly unchanged version of anti-LGBTQ bill